‘Made in America’ Needs Global Partners | Opinion
The article argues that while reshoring manufacturing to the U.S. is a patriotic goal, it is neither feasible nor beneficial for all products, and global supply chains remain essential. Diversifying manufacturing through near-shoring and friend-shoring, especially with allies, enhances economic resilience more effectively than broad tariffs. Global trade, access to talent, and innovation—supported by sensible immigration and trade policies—are critical to sustaining American competitiveness.
- ▪President Trump’s tariffs on China and other trading partners aimed to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., but full reshoring is not realistic for all sectors.
- ▪Mexico has emerged as a key manufacturing hub, more than doubling its tech exports to the U.S. while Chinese consumer tech imports dropped from 45% in 2024 to 22% in 2025.
- ▪CTA research estimates that moving all consumer tech manufacturing to the U.S. would require $500 billion over 10 years and over ten times the current manufacturing workforce.
- ▪China dominates 60% to 90% of processing capacity for critical minerals, even when the materials are mined elsewhere, including in the U.S.
- ▪Immigrants play a vital role in American innovation, and expanding high-skill visas could help the U.S. attract and retain top global talent.
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...By Gary ShapiroShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.The upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be a high-profile moment in the U.S.–China relationship. It’s also an opportunity to de-escalate both tariffs and tensions between the world’s two largest economies.It’s been a year since President Trump issued major tariff hikes on China and other U.S. trading partners as part of what he called a large-scale effort to bring manufacturing back to the United States. That patriotic goal makes sense in critical sectors, but it’s not realistic, possible or even desirable for all manufacturing.
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